Easy access garment

ABSTRACT

Easily wearable and removable garments are disclosed. The garments are designed to be easily put on and removed by a wearer having a condition, such as a shoulder, neck, or back injury that causes the wearer difficulty in putting on or removing a conventional torso-covering garment. The garments disclosed may be comprised of a neckline, left and right shoulder portions, left and right fastening devices configured to allow opening and closing of a corresponding shoulder separation, a back portion, and a back fastening device configured to allow opening and closing of the back separation. The garments disclosed allow a health care professional, such as a physician or physical therapist, to easily access a wearer&#39;s injury to examine or provide treatment to the wearer.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/153,607, filed Apr. 28, 2015, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment, such as a shirt, sweatshirt, or jacket. In particular, the present invention relates to a torso-covering garment designed to be easily put on and removed by a wearer having a condition, such as a shoulder, neck, or back injury that causes the wearer difficulty in putting on or removing a conventional torso-covering garment. The present invention also relates to a garment that allows a health care professional, such as a physician or physical therapist, to easily access a wearer's injury to examine or provide treatment to the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may include a garment to be worn by a wearer, particularly a wearer having a shoulder, neck, or back injury; and more particularly, a wearer having injuries in both shoulders. The invention eliminates the wearer's fear associated with putting on or removing the garment.

In exemplary uses of the invention, the invention may allow a physician to easily access a wearer's injury to perform examination, surgery, or other treatment. The invention may further allow a physical therapist to easily access a wearer's injury to provide treatment. The invention may further allow an in-home caregiver to easily access a wearer's injury to provide assistance such as changing dressing on a wound, applying creams, or applying heat or ice. The invention may provide a wearer with a garment that can be easily put on or removed with minimal movement, thereby eliminating the risk of pain or further injury to the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the left shoulder separation is open;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the left and right shoulder separations are open;

FIG. 4 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is closed;

FIG. 5 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is open;

FIG. 6 is a back view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the right shoulder separation and the back separation are open;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the left shoulder separation is open and a wearer's shoulder is easily accessible;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a garment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, in which the back separation is open, enabling a wearer to easily put on or remove the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 includes a shirt 10 designed to be worn by a wearer having an injury, such as a shoulder, neck, or back injury. The shirt 10 includes a front portion 11, a back portion 12, an inside portion 13 configured to face the wearer's body, and an outside portion 14 configured to face the wearer's environment. The shirt 10 further includes a neckline 15, left and right shoulder portions 16, and left and right elbow portions 17. A shoulder separation 21 is provided in each of the shoulder portions 16, the shoulder separation 21 extending from a side of the neckline 15 to just above a corresponding elbow portion 17. A fastening device 31, such as a zipper, is provided to allow for opening and closing of the shoulder separation 21. The shirt 10 may include left and right sleeves 18, each sleeve 18 extending any appropriate length from a wearer's shoulder down to, and including, the wearer's wrist.

FIG. 2 provides an illustration of the invention in which the left shoulder separation 21 is open. FIG. 3 provides an illustration of the invention in which both left and right shoulder separations 21 are open. When at least one of the shoulder separations 21 is open (e.g., when at least one of the shoulder portion zippers is unzipped), a health care professional, such as a physician or physical therapist, may easily access the wearer's injury. The invention allows for such access without requiring the wearer to remove the shirt 10. Accordingly, the invention provides more timely access to the wearer's injury, and eliminates pain or further injury that might result from the wearer's removal of the shirt 10, for instance, due to movement of the wearer's shoulders. In addition, the invention allows the wearer to undergo surgery, examination, in-home care, or to receive other medical or therapeutic treatment, while remaining clothed. The invention, therefore, eliminates the wearer's fear or discomfort associated with removing his or her clothing in order to undergo examination or treatment. Moreover, while oth left and right shoulder separations 21 are open, the shirt 10 may be removed from the wearer by sliding it down the wearer's body and stepping through. Thus, during removal, the wearer is not required to move his or her arms behind his or her body, as is the case with conventional front-opening style garments. FIG. 7 provides an illustration of the invention in which the left shoulder separation 21 is open, such that a wearer's left shoulder is easily accessible.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an exemplary embodiment of the invention further includes a back separation 22 extending from the back center of the neckline 15 to a bottom of the shirt 10, for instance, a waistline 19. A fastening device 32, such as a zipper, is provided to allow for opening and closing of the back separation 22. Other fastening devices 32 known to those of skill in the art, such as clips or Velcro may be also used.

When the back separation 22 is open (e.g., when the back zipper is unzipped), as illustrated in FIG. 5, the wearer may easily put on or remove the shirt 10, while his or her arms remain comfortably disposed near the front of his or her body. In putting on or removing the shirt 10, the wearer is not required to raise his or her arms, rotate his or her shoulders, or struggle to pull the shirt 10 over his or her head, as is the case with conventional pull-over style garments. Furthermore, the wearer is not required to move his or her arms behind his or her body, as is the case with conventional front-opening style garments. By significantly reducing the amount of movement the wearer must perform in order to put on or remove the shirt 10, the invention significantly reduces the pain, and risk of further injury, associated with putting on or removing the shirt 10. FIG. 8 provides an illustration of the invention in which the back separation 22 is open, such that a wearer may easily put on or remove the shirt 10.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of the shoulder separations 21 and the back separation 22 may be easily opened or closed by disengaging or engaging the shoulder and back fastening devices 31, 32. For example, a health care professional, or other individual, may assist the wearer in opening or closing any of the separations, without requiring movement by the wearer. FIG. 6 provides an illustration of the invention in which the left shoulder separation 21 and the back separation 22 are open, but the right shoulder separation 21 is closed. Each of the shoulder separations 21 and the back separation 22 may be opened or closed independently of one another.

Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the applicable rules of law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment comprising: a neckline; left and right shoulder portions, each shoulder portion having a shoulder separation that extends from the neckline along the shoulder separation; left and right fastening devices, each fastening device configured to allow opening and closing of a corresponding shoulder separation; a back portion having a back separation that extends from the neckline along the back portion; and a back fastening device configured to allow opening and closing of the back separation.
 2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the left fastening device comprises a zipper and the right fastening device comprises a zipper.
 3. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the back fastening device comprises a zipper.
 4. The garment according to claim 1 further comprising left and right sleeves, wherein the left sleeve comprises a left elbow portion, and the left shoulder separation extends from the neckline to just above the left elbow portion, and wherein the right sleeve comprises a right elbow portion, and the right shoulder separation extends from the neckline to just above the right elbow portion.
 5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the back separation extends from a back center of the neckline to the bottom of the garment.
 6. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the left fastening device, the right fastening device, and the back fastening device are configured to engage and disengage while a wearer of the garment is substantially motionless.
 7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a shirt.
 8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder separations and the back separation may be opened or closed independently of one another. 